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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Comelec move to lift campaign permit requirement promotes fair elections --- De Lima

Comelec move to lift campaign permit requirement promotes fair elections --- De Lima

Published Mar 20, 2022 01:10 pm

Reelectionist Senator Leila de Lima said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is "on the right direction" towards better informed electorate after the poll body's move to lift the campaign permit requirement for all candidates.

(Photo courtesy of Sen. Leila De Lima Facebook Page)

"The lifting of the election campaign permit requirement by the Comelec is most welcome," De Lima said on her March 18 dispatch.

The detained senator, who is seeking another Senate seat in the May elections under Vice President Leni Robredo's ticket, reiterated that the previous policy is "an unnecessary bureaucratic requirement for all candidates."

She stressed that "it was really realistic to expect Comelec to scrutinize each and every event of each and every candidate for the duration of the campaign period."

"At its best, it is just an accumulation of wastepaper in the Comelec offices where random Comelec officials skim through the paperwork only to end up mechanically approving the request," she said.

"At worst, it is a means to put candidates with limited resources at even more disadvantage by giving them more hoops through which to jump," she added.

With the move to lift permit requirement for candidates, the detained senator said the Comelec is on the right track towards fair elections.

"Fair elections necessitate that candidates be given every opportunity to present their platforms and qualifications. By removing this superfluous permit requirements for candidates, Comelec is on the right direction towards a better informed electorate," De Lima said.

READ MORE: Comelec approves recalibrated rules for campaigning under the new normal

De Lima's request to participate in Comelec e-rally in February was rejected by Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 a day after the senator marked her fifth year in detention.

A human rights defender and prominent political prisoner under the Duterte administration, De Lima marked her fifth year in unjust detention last Feb. 24. She has consistently and firmly asserted her innocence in the trumped-up charges filed against her.

Due to lack of evidence, De Lima was acquitted in one of these three cases on February 17, 2021, while two other cases are still pending.

READ MORE: De Lima's request to participate in Comelec e-rally denied

Related Tags

CAMPAIGN PERMIT REQUIREMENT Senator Leila de Lima Comelec elections 2022 32022
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